A leaky-wave antenna using double-layered metamaterial transmission line

A novel leaky-wave antenna (LWA) is proposed using a double-layered resonant-type metamaterial (MTM) transmission line (TL). The MTM TL is composed of periodically arranged complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs), capacitive gaps, and metal caps. By introducing the extra metal cap in additional layer of the basic artificial MTM TL element, an increased left handed capacitor by 36 % with respect to that using none cap is engineered, which is necessary to implement a balanced condition, and thus a continuous beam steering property of the resultant LWA in terms of providing phase constants from negative to positive values. For verification, a 20-cells LWA sample is fabricated and measured. Consistent numerical and experimental results have both validated the continuous frequency-scanning capabilities of the antenna from backward −29° to forward 72° (including the broadside). The proposed prescription opens a way toward new types of MTM LWAs with easily engineered broadside radiation.